• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Lip reader 'reveals' what high school basketball coach said after pulling female player's hair

Home> News> US News

Published 14:23 25 Mar 2025 GMT

Lip reader 'reveals' what high school basketball coach said after pulling female player's hair

The coach has since been fired and has issued an apology

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

Featured Image Credit: NSFH Network

Topics: News, US News, Sport, Basketball

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

A lip reader has explained what they believe was said in a viral altercation that resulted in a basketball coach being fired.

Northville High School basketball coach Jim Zullo has been fired from the Michigan school after a video went viral showing him pulling the hair of one of his female players.

This incident took place on Friday (March 21), after the school lost to opponents La Fargeville 43-37 in the New York State Class D championship.

Advert

The event was live streamed and viewers caught a glimpse of an altercation between Zullo and one of his players, Hailey Monroe.

Monroe can be seen tearful as the team await the other school being awarded their medals when Zullo pulls her ponytailed hair from behind and begins to berate her.

A fellow player, Ahmya Tompkins, attempts to intervene before Zullo snaps at her as well.

Advert

Lip reader Nicola Hickling has since spoken to the Mail Online and revealed what she believes was said in this altercation.

When Tompkins intervened, Hickling claims she told the coach, 'Leave her. That's not okay.'

Zullo continued before Tompkins again said ‘no, leave her’.

An angry Zullo snaps back telling the player, ‘you shut it.’, according to Hickling.

Advert

The footage quickly went viral on social media with many calling for the resignation of the coach.

Zullo was berating Monroe until a fellow player stepped in (NSFH Network)
Zullo was berating Monroe until a fellow player stepped in (NSFH Network)

Northville Central School District later confirmed that Zullo had been let go and would no longer be coaching the team.

In a statement, the district said: “The Northville Central School District is aware of, and deeply disturbed by, the conduct of the Coach of the Girls’ Varsity basketball team during the Class D New York State championship game.

Advert

“The District is committed to ensuring that this type of behavior has no place within our programs, and we will continue to uphold the values of respect and integrity that our athletes, families and community expect and deserve. This individual will no longer be coaching for the Northville Central School District.”

Zullo has also issued an apology saying his actions were unacceptable and commended the women for their efforts.

The coach pulled the players hair from behind before appearing to yell at her (YouTube/CBS6Albany)
The coach pulled the players hair from behind before appearing to yell at her (YouTube/CBS6Albany)

In his statement, he said: “I deeply regret my behavior following the loss to La Fargeville Friday night in the Class D state championship game.

Advert

"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to Hailey and her family, our team, the good folks at Northville Central Schools and our community.

"As a coach, under no circumstance is it acceptable to put my hands on a player, and I am truly sorry. I wish I could have those moments back. I am grateful for the opportunity to have coached girls basketball at Northville the past two years, especially last season, which was a difficult time for our family.

"I am super proud of every one of these young women and what they accomplished. I know each of them will go on to do great things and I wish them well."

  • Lip reader 'reveals' what was said during Trump's 'embarrassing' act at FIFA Club World Cup final
  • High school basketball coach fired after he was caught doing 'unacceptable' act to player on camera
  • Lip reader reveals what Trump really said to Obama at Jimmy Carter's funeral
  • Lip reader 'reveals what Taylor Swift said to Travis Kelce' during intimate moment after Chiefs secured spot at Super Bowl

Choose your content:

7 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 7 mins ago

    Coldplay fans say Chris Martin is 'traumatized' after CEO was caught with employee at jumbotron

    Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR employee Kristin Cabot were caught on camera getting cozy

    News
  • an hour ago

    Two chilling reasons why people think JD Vance will replace Donald Trump by the end of 2025

    JD Vance is currently the vice president, but some people think he'll be promoted by the end of the year...

    News
  • an hour ago

    Wife of man killed in tragic MRI accident recalls moment machine 'snatched' him

    Kevin McAllister was accompanying his wife to her MRI when disaster struck at a New York clinic

    News
  • an hour ago

    Infamous ‘Annabelle’ doll not found in hotel room after paranormal investigator dies while touring US with it

    Rumors have quickly spread online about the investigator's death

    News